What do you do with your finds? Keep them?

[mtdoramike]

I get rid of everything that I find one way or another, if it's valuable, I sell it, if it's not, I give it away or throw it away. If it's identifiable, I try to locate the original owner. I've never really been a superstitious person, but once I found a really nice man's ring and it was just my size, so I started wearing the found ring. From the moment I put the ring on my finger, I started having bad luck and it seemed to run for close to a month so I finally decided to take off the ring to see if my luck would change. Well, me and my wife were no longer fighting, my pet parrot stopped biting and trying to attack me every time I got around it's cage, I won some money on the lottery, a friend stopped by and brought back a tool I had loaned him two years prior, I went for my 6 month physical and the doctor said I was his star pupil. So it started coming up roses for me especially after I gave the ring away with full disclosure about the bad luck it brought me. But the new owner said they haven't had any issues. so all is good with them. So was it just me or the ring? either way I leave nothing to chance anymore.

 

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[TORRERO]

Each signal is a bit like opening a present,

I tell this to people who ask why I do it, the find itself is interesting then it goes in a box or coin sleeve and I'm off looking for something else..
Like the thrill of the hunt !! not so much the thing found on the hunt !!
And the memories associated with the find !!

 

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[mtdoramike]

Was it Gold or Silver ? Do you sell your gold or silver items ? I generally don't wear jewelry but I have a lot that I've found over the years..
But I have also sold a lot..
Have you ever found something that you think is a lot of money but you don't know how to estimate the value and you don't want to Fleabay because you might get less than value and then have to pay commision ? So what did you do ? (like a CW Confederate button etc)

One of the items was a gold and diamond cluster ring, I had it appraised at a local jeweler who put the value at between $1000.00-$1200.00 new, but used about $800.00. I listed it on a few metal detecting sites and it sold. But most of the gold and silver I sell to a local collector who I guess scraps it. The particular ring that gave me the Heeby geebies was silver with a nic green stone. I'm glad I got rid of it. To me, all lost items start out with a bit of bad luck attached to them, which is why I don't keep any of it.

 

[mtdoramike]

I made enough off the diamond ring to pay for my 3 day vacation with a few bucks left over. I don't really care about the value of the item to me, it's the value the new owner is placing on it. I'm good either way.

 

[pepperj]

One of the items was a gold and diamond cluster ring, I had it appraised at a local jeweler who put the value at between $1000.00-$1200.00 new, but used about $800.00. I listed it on a few metal detecting sites and it sold. But most of the gold and silver I sell to a local collector who I guess scraps it. The particular ring that gave me the Heeby geebies was silver with a nic green stone. I'm glad I got rid of it. To me, all lost items start out with a bit of bad luck attached to them, which is why I don't keep any of it.

It's probably the first time I have heard this from someone.
I get the part of all lost items start out with a bit of bad luck.

Though how do we know that for sure?
Items get discarded regularly throughout history.
Spoke to a few folks that say that they just threw that ring away, brought them good luck actually as it got rid of the person that it was associated with.

If you bought a used item does it come with the same bit of bad luck feeling attached?

Folks have sold their personal keepsakes in times of bad luck, just to survive.

 

[TORRERO]

It's probably the first time I have heard this from someone.
I get the part of all lost items start out with a bit of bad luck.

Though how do we know that for sure?
Items get discarded regularly throughout history.
Spoke to a few folks that say that they just threw that ring away, brought them good luck actually as it got rid of the person that it was associated with.

If you bought a used item does it come with the same bit of bad luck feeling attached?

Folks have sold their personal keepsakes in times of bad luck, just to survive.

Good Points,
I had a guy approach me while hunting sidewalks in Charlotte and tell me he had lost his wedding ring in his backyard and he would give me $50 if I could find it... (he did)
So I went and it was two swings and I had it..
Then as Paul Harvey said... there was "the rest of the story"
Which was that this day was him and his wife's wedding anniversary and he would love to be able to return it as a surprise to her...
BUT the real reason it had been lost in the first place was because they had gotten in a fight and he had thrown the ring out the back door and when cooler heads prevailed they couldn't find it... ha ha ha..
That had been a year earlier.. and then he saw me walking... and knew what to do... so the yard was postage stamp sized and there really wasn't much place to hunt, hence my finding it in the first 2 swings...
But he is right, some things aren't "lost" but "tossed" and who can say for sure ?

 

[pepperj]

Good Points,
I had a guy approach me while hunting sidewalks in Charlotte and tell me he had lost his wedding ring in his backyard and he would give me $50 if I could find it... (he did)
So I went and it was two swings and I had it..
Then as Paul Harvey said... there was "the rest of the story"
Which was that this day was him and his wife's wedding anniversary and he would love to be able to return it as a surprise to her...
BUT the real reason it had been lost in the first place was because they had gotten in a fight and he had thrown the ring out the back door and when cooler heads prevailed they couldn't find it... ha ha ha..
That had been a year earlier.. and then he saw me walking... and knew what to do... so the yard was postage stamp sized and there really wasn't much place to hunt, hence my finding it in the first 2 swings...
But he is right, some things aren't "lost" but "tossed" and who can say for sure ?

I've looked for a few tossed rings but with no luck.
I know there's 6-8 gold rings at the bottom of the Scarborough Bluffs.
Neighbor got hitched, asked the new one where was all her rings.
Tossed them over the Bluffs, but maybe he could replace them.
I never even wasted my time looking for them.

 

[Almy]

I hunt mostly early colonial period (1750 to 1850) sites in a particular area I have historical interest in. I record where I find each item in a spreadsheet. The majority of the coins are British halfpennies but there are also early North American coppers and a few Spanish silvers. Only 3 of them (Connecticut, New Jersey and Irish mine company coppers) have any monetary value. I put the majority of them in a plastic book with little pockets and the 3 valuable one in coin mounts. I have made displays of civilian buttons, bells, buckles, gun (musket, rifle and pistol) balls and military items like buttons and insignia. So far, I have just used cheap plastic boxes for them, but they work. I made one assorted display for a local, private museum. I've never sold anything. But I'm 83 and what to do with them is becoming a serious consideration. I'd hate to have them just tossed out by someone who does not appreciate them.

 

[Older The Better]

How do you do your spreadsheet? I’m always tweaking how i organize my finds I try to take a picture of every one but I can never decide how to organize them, for example a flat button from a trade site… does it go with na stuff? Clothing? Personal adornment… I’d love to find or make an app that I could pull up a map, see a pic and a description and location and be able to filter by multiple ways… I think gis could do it but I need to do a lot of learning to figure that out.

 

[mtdoramike]

It's probably the first time I have heard this from someone.
I get the part of all lost items start out with a bit of bad luck.

Though how do we know that for sure?
Items get discarded regularly throughout history.
Spoke to a few folks that say that they just threw that ring away, brought them good luck actually as it got rid of the person that it was associated with.

If you bought a used item does it come with the same bit of bad luck feeling attached?

Folks have sold their personal keepsakes in times of bad luck, just to survive.

If the bad luck exists, I think it's derived from the act of losing the item. Do I think all lost items are cursed or bad luck? No! But I guess there is a possibility that some could be I guess depending on how cherished the lost item was to the original owner. I have only noticed it once in 25 years of metal detecting with the silver ring with the green stone. Now was the ring actually bad luck, cursed or just my imagination? who knows. But after all that befell me in that 30 day period was enough to make me ponder the question and to get rid of the ring, which I liked very much.

 

[TORRERO]

I've looked for a few tossed rings but with no luck.
I know there's 6-8 gold rings at the bottom of the Scarborough Bluffs.
Neighbor got hitched, asked the new one where was all her rings.
Tossed them over the Bluffs, but maybe he could replace them.
I never even wasted my time looking for them.
View attachment 2199101

Think of it though... 6-8 gold rings from just ONE person, think of the BONANZA that lies beneath !!
A lot pf people have the same ideas...

 

[treasureguy56]

I hunt mostly early colonial period (1750 to 1850) sites in a particular area I have historical interest in. I record where I find each item in a spreadsheet. The majority of the coins are British halfpennies but there are also early North American coppers and a few Spanish silvers. Only 3 of them (Connecticut, New Jersey and Irish mine company coppers) have any monetary value. I put the majority of them in a plastic book with little pockets and the 3 valuable one in coin mounts. I have made displays of civilian buttons, bells, buckles, gun (musket, rifle and pistol) balls and military items like buttons and insignia. So far, I have just used cheap plastic boxes for them, but they work. I made one assorted display for a local, private museum. I've never sold anything. But I'm 83 and what to do with them is becoming a serious consideration. I'd hate to have them just tossed out by someone who does not appreciate them.

My name is Al and my suggestion would be ( If your family isnt genuinely interested in your collection ) contact your local historical society or sell some it and donate the money to your local humane society or animal shelter . This way something good can come from your hard work ...

Take care and good hunting to you !

 

[treasureguy56]

My name is Al and my suggestion would be ( If your family isnt genuinely interested in your collection ) contact your local historical society or sell some it and donate the money to your local humane society or animal shelter . This way something good can come from your hard work ...

Take care and good hunting to you !

I hunt mostly early colonial period (1750 to 1850) sites in a particular area I have historical interest in. I record where I find each item in a spreadsheet. The majority of the coins are British halfpennies but there are also early North American coppers and a few Spanish silvers. Only 3 of them (Connecticut, New Jersey and Irish mine company coppers) have any monetary value. I put the majority of them in a plastic book with little pockets and the 3 valuable one in coin mounts. I have made displays of civilian buttons, bells, buckles, gun (musket, rifle and pistol) balls and military items like buttons and insignia. So far, I have just used cheap plastic boxes for them, but they work. I made one assorted display for a local, private museum. I've never sold anything. But I'm 83 and what to do with them is becoming a serious consideration. I'd hate to have them just tossed out by someone who does not appreciate it.

 

[treasureguy56]

I hunt mostly early colonial period (1750 to 1850) sites in a particular area I have historical interest in. I record where I find each item in a spreadsheet. The majority of the coins are British halfpennies but there are also early North American coppers and a few Spanish silvers. Only 3 of them (Connecticut, New Jersey and Irish mine company coppers) have any monetary value. I put the majority of them in a plastic book with little pockets and the 3 valuable one in coin mounts. I have made displays of civilian buttons, bells, buckles, gun (musket, rifle and pistol) balls and military items like buttons and insignia. So far, I have just used cheap plastic boxes for them, but they work. I made one assorted display for a local, private museum. I've never sold anything. But I'm 83 and what to do with them is becoming a serious consideration. I'd hate to have them just tossed out by someone who does not appreciate them.

One more thing Almy , if you cant find someone who's interested in buying some of your collection try selling it here on this site ! Pictures of small groups of your collection could go along way .
Good Luck
Al

 

[Almy]

Thank you for all the great suggestions! Now I have a lot more possibilities to consider.
For Older the Better: My spreadsheet is categorized. The site is in rows. The finds from that site are sub-categorized in rows under the site. The type of find (button, coin, buckle) are the sub-categories. Each site has several columns, for date (of coins), description and comments. I also take pictures of each item, put them in Apple Photos and label them. Some I put in albums. I have more to do with the pictures and plan to publish an article with the pictures linked in. But I have been slow in doing that. The items in my physical displays are typed (coins in one, buttons in another, bells in another and so on).